The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-17
STORIES ABOUT RAYMOND
HIS PRACTICAL JOKES AND SIN
GULAR IDIOSYNCRACIRS.
His Excessive NervOu ness and Steady
Habit OF Matching Pennies-A
Story About S0thern.
IsPKcrAL TO THE ArPKAL.I

IsPKcIAL TO THE APPEAL.l
WASHINGTON, April 16.-Since
the sad death of John 7. Raymond
at Evansville last Sunday, there
have been hundreds Of stories told
Of him among his friends here.
These stories all agree that the one
passion which overtopped all others
in his make up was his great fond
ness for matching coins" One
gentleman who was on the most in
innate terms with the comedian,
tells that he sat on the veranda of
the principal hotel at Saratoga on
one occasion with Raymond when he
happened to see an acquaintance
coming down the road in buggy.
He was in the midst of an important
business conversation, but he stopped
short with, Excuse me a moment"
then he walked out to the road. He
held up one hand to attract the at
tention of the driver. The other
was inserted into his pocket AS the
buggy came to stand still, Raymond
placed dollar on the tire. The oc-
eupant of the vehicle did likewise.
Raymond glanced at the coins, saw
that he had won, and seooped them
in without word. Then he return
ed to the porch and resumed the
conversation. On another occasion
this gentleman says he was in Salt
Lake City with Raymond, They
visited the race course together and
the actor was introduced to another
gentleman. Within five minutes
matching" contest had begun. 1t
was kept up for several hours with
out intermission and with varying
success. Raymond saw nothing of
the races. but when he left the course
he had lost $l75.
WHIT BILLY PITCHER SAYS OF THE
COMEDIAN.
The Boston Record publishes an in
terview with BILLY" Pitcher, a we'll
known character of that city, who
was great friend of Raymond's and
Billy Florence. To reporter OF
that paper he said the other day, that
Raymond spent a little over two
years steadily in Boston," Ar
thur Cheney picked him out
for a good man while he was
playing in New York, think. He
lived down on the corner of Boylston
street over cigar store. He used
to drop in and see me quite often,
and | grew to know him very well.
He was one of the oldest men | ever
saw or travelled with. He would be
walking along the street, for Instance,
and talking with you, when suddenly
off wouldgo his hat with Good morn
ing, madam, in the blandest tone pos
sible. You would look around and not
find lady within block, and at the
same instance one of his good hum
ored laughs would tell the story.
Why, he'd fool me that way halt a
dozen times an afternoon.
"Nervous2 Awfully nervous, He
would stand up facing you talking,
constantly in motion, rubbing his
hand in that way he had as if wash
ing with invisible soap, and talking
| rapidly, comically. QuickH / never
saw any single movement OF a man
that was as quick as his side wave OF
the hand when he offered to match
you. MatohH That was the one
great craze of his life. He would
match for anything and anywhere.
He was fondest OF matching for gold
dollars. Why, I've known him to
win SIS from a man no had never
seen before inside ten minutes, right
before the West End Hotel at Long
Branch. They matched on top o.
Raymond's trunk, and before Ray
mond had even gone in to register.
RAYMOND used to match a gooC
deal with Abbey. | have heard hin
tell how the two were at it in Frisco
At one period in the contest Ray
mond owed Abbey five suits o
clothes, his watch and chain and al
his jewelry, aud $500 beside. Blu
they kept on playing until Raymond
had about riphi ed himself.
"JskerS Oh yes, Raymond was
great practical joker. know on
time while he was playing at tn
Globe, but happened not to be il
the cast Just that night. droppe
in casually and took vacant seat t
see the show which Nat Cannin
was managing. At the end OF tn
first act an usher came to me an
asked if | had check for my sea-
When | said no, he said | woul
have to 80 out. | remarked cordial
ly and in a stage aside that | woul
see him blowed first, and kept m
seat. At the end of the second az
he made another assault on me, an
seemed to have seriousness in h
manner. began to smell a nous
and asked who had sent him. ii
said that did not make any differ
enoe. / said it did. l thought
would go back and look tho matte
I up. Just az / was getting towar
the door Raymond and Cannin
came toward me. That's right, sal
they to the usher; Pitcher came
} here on sneak ticket, he must 8
} out And I'm blessed il they tw
. keeping their faces straight, didn
take me by the shoulders and ru
: me out. Then they thought the trei
, was mine, on top Of that"
Harry McGleRen turned OYER tn
leaves ola bound volume Of the Ro
; leisurely, and said that he had fir
, come across John Il. Raymon
! 1866, at the Columbus Opera Hous
/ in Chicago. Raymond was manage
. Of the opera house, and McGlene
!. was with the Bateman Concert Con
]. pany, in which Nine, Parepa Rot
q was the shining star. Raymond
y name was John O'Brieu, and !
!. obligingly moved the company
was playing in the opera house to
smaller hall so as to let in the visi
ors. This was kind thing to d
although he was we'll paid for it,
course. But some men might ha'
played dog in the manger.
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